Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The rift between the Catholic Church and the Obama administration over health care reform and contraception policy is still going strong, with Cardinal Timothy Dolan telling CBS News on Sunday that "We didn't ask for the fight, but we're not going to back away from it."

Under the policy, some organizations affiliated with the Catholic Church are required to provide employees insurance that covers contraception, even though that violates Church doctrine. The debate is so intense because it goes to deeply held beliefs on all sides: Tenets of a faith versus individual liberty, not to mention women's health.

But the battle lines aren't entirely clear cut. Not all Catholics are comfortable with what they see as their own leaders' hard-line stance. Dr. Deborah S. McRoberts, a family practice doctor in Biscoe, N.C., is one of those. She has been a Catholic for 56 years, she says, but she is offended by what she sees as Church leaders' hypocrisy and lack of respect for women. She detailed her anger in a letter to Bishop Peter Jugis of the Charlotte diocese and copied it to the Observer.

Here is her letter. Does she represent the thinking of many Catholic women, or Catholics in general? Or is she an outlier in a generally unified Church?

Dear Bishop Jugis:

Show me a single bishop in the Catholic Church who has give up his insurance on the grounds that it will pay for an elective vasectomy (which if you investigate, you will discover that it would), and I would support this unjust campaign against the President's healthcare reform policy. No, bishops will not go without insurance in this discussion, only poor lay persons who donate to the welfare of the Church. It is beside the point that most bishops will never get a vasectomy - most women will never get an abortion either.

I have read your article objecting to employee healthcare coverage on the grounds that it would require coverage of women's health services, including, but not limited to abortion, contraception and sterilization. It would also include Pap smears, mammograms, routine cancer prevention and screening, routing prenatal and obstetric care which many women now go without. In the Church's fight against abortion, why can you not trust your employees to do the right thing? My health care coverage covers abortions also, but in all my life, I have never had one. Women have consciences. Ninety-nine point nine percent of Catholic women never get abortions either, and less than a third use birth control, of those who do, they frequently do not do so throughout their entire reproductive lifetime, but only for a few years. Many listen to the Church's teachings and change over to other means of natural birth control after a few years. Life is a learning experience - people make mistakes, and they have to make their own mistakes to learn from them. That's why we need to forgive sins as we wish to be forgiven.

So the Church proposes to throw out coverage for the unborn (prenatal care), the elderly (dependent care), children, all because you don't trust your own employees? After all, we are talking here about a very specific group of people, not the nation as a whole, just people who are employed by the Catholic Church. You can stand to learn something from married couples about the importance of trust in a relationship. Either you don't trust them or you just don't want to spend the money, which I believe they donated to you.

More and more I realize that the Catholic Church is a Man-made church. In fifty-six years of being Catholic, I have not yet heard one sermon about the evils of rape, or pedophilia, or fathers who rape their daughters, or of the men who abandon women after casual sex, leaving them unsupported and hopeless, feelings so helpless that they feel they have no alternative but abortion. No sermons about irresponsible sex by men, but plenty about women who get pregnant out of wedlock and then get abortions. Bishops are very quick to cast stones against women, very slow to forgive or trust.

Now you are asking me to join you in objecting to elder care, child healthcare including immunizations, prenatal care, cancer prevention programs, healthcare for mothers who have diabetes or hypertension, so that they can continue working to support their families, when they may have been abandoned by the "gentlemen" who fathered their children. I can not in good conscience agree with you. There is more to being pro-life than merely being opposed to abortion.

The thing is, as a doctor, I am going to take care of these women anyway. I, too, have taken a vow - one I take very seriously. I pledged the Hippocratic Oath twenty-four years ago, and I have been taking care of patients regardless of their ability to pay ever since. That is what doctors do. Everyone in our country gets healthcare already, but many delay entry into healthcare because they don't have the means to pay for it, since their employers refuse to insure them. Of course, it makes insurance rates go up for those who do have insurance, such as bishops. But of course their insurance is paid for by donations from Catholic women.

"I think that there is oftentimes the impulse to suggest that if the two parties are disagreeing then they're equally at fault and the truth lies somewhere in the middle. And an equivalence is presented which I think reinforces peoples' cynicism in general. This is not one of those situations where there's an equivalency." - Barack Obama, April 3, 2012

One woman vs. one billion other Catholics. Oh yeah, each side deserves equal coverage.

3) Failure to recognize that employees can change jobs to someplace else that carries the insurance that they desire.

4) Attacking the Church on lines other than the issue at hand which is typical if one cannot debate the issue at hand.

5) Yes, religion is man made, but the 1st Amendment allows for this and thus a poor understanding of the US Constitution. The fact that she just now understands the former is no excuse for ignoring the later.

6) With the attack about the Church being man-made, she should simply leave the Church.

"Show me a single bishop in the Catholic Church who has give up his insurance"

Show me any employee of the catholic church that has to give up their insurance for any reason. That makes no sense. No one has to give up their insurance in any case. The church simply doesn't provide coverage for certain ***elective*** procedures and treatments. their employees still have insurance regardless of if they elect to have excluded treatments or procedures performed. Thye simply pay out of pocket for those elective treatments and procedures

Every time the Republicans launch another ridiculous attack against the President people line up on either side and act like it has anything to do with the issue claimed.

Nothing in the health care law is aimed at the Catholic Church. It says that birth control must be included BY THE INSURANCE COMPANIES in every medical policy issued. It is a regulation aimed at insurance companies, not any church.

Once again the lemmings have bit, hook, line, and sinker on yet another red herring.

Your misunderstanding of the teachings of the Catholic church make your opinion at least misguided and misinformed and at worst destructive to those even less informed. The Church must take a stance to defend life and fight any inroads attempted by this government to rewrite and redefine life, morality, and right/wrong.

As far as what you have heard from the pulpit over your 56 years, it is unfortunate that you have only heard part of the truth. Pray for our priests to be courageous enough to preach the whole truth even knowing beforehand that there will be backlash from the congregation and the public in general.

Right and wrong is truly black and white and cannot be greyed by the arguments of relativism. Please educate yourself on why the Church teaches as She does and you will better understand the full truth.

A very angry woman who knows very little of what Christ left His Church. It's not up to the Bishops, dear. Christ's Church cannot change from what was left by Christ. Neither the Bishops nor the Pope have the authority to change the "deposit of faith" left them by Christ.

"Every time the Republicans launch another ridiculous attack against the President people line up on either side and act like it has anything to do with the issue claimed."I am a lifelong Democrat. There is no attack being launched against the president. The president is launching the attack on religious rights and constitutional rights by trying to force religious institutions to provide health care coverage for elective procedures that they fundamentally disagree with.

"Nothing in the health care law is aimed at the Catholic Church. It says that birth control must be included BY THE INSURANCE COMPANIES in every medical policy issued. It is a regulation aimed at insurance companies, not any church."

The church currently has customized policies that exclude contraception. It is self explanatory that this removes the Church's ability to not provide coverage for elective treatment that directly conflicts with their beliefs. By legally defacto removing their options it is an attack on them and the constitution.

She's absolutely right about the church being a man made church. Cracks me up with some readers commenting on the grammar instead of giving an intelligent criticism of the argument. These are obviously brainwashed Catholic drones incapable of believing their church is infallible.

I am a Catholic woman and know plenty of Catholic woman who stand with the Church. This woman may call herself Catholic, but in reality she has separated herself from the Church and shouldn't consider herself Catholic.

You can be sure, however, that the bishop has already dispatched his henchman, David Hains, to make sure you never get communion again...because that's how he operates. He's so totally out of touch with reality.

Dr. McRoberts is entirely correct, of course. Note the misogynistic redneck comments from these sexist dopes who can't defend their positions. The world has passed them by and they've gotten away with treating women like dirt for long enough. And YES- McRoberts should leave that depraved anti-woman failure called the Catholic Church. Why would ANYBODY want to be affiliated with an institution that condones child molestation, vociferously attacks women and contraception, has been involved with The Third Reich, owns prisons and politically agitates against the prospects of at least half of the population. CAST OFF these dark religious misogynists!

Since 98% of Catholic women of childbearing years have used some kind of artificial birth control, just who are these Bishops protecting? The right for their flock to ignore their teaching on this subject, which no longer has anything to do with the modern world?

What the celibate, and lest we forget, ALL MALE hierarchy of the Catholic Church is trying to do is get the government to enforce a doctrine that their own members routinely ignore. Times have changed, and a prohibition against contraception that doesn't even merit a mention in the Bible has no place in a modern democratic society where women feel planning their families is a fundamental right.

The ban on contraception was created by these men long ago for one purpose: to create more Catholics so the Church could continue to dominate the world politically and economically. It is a relic of a bygone era and has nothing to do with abortion - contraception in fact prevents abortions by preventing unwanted pregnancies. A child can understand this, but these Bishops don't seem to get it. A misguided edict like this has serious consequences for young women and families not prepared for the demands of parenthood. Not that they care.

To cling to a doctrine of theocratic imperialism today is to make the Catholic Church ever more irrelevant and turn off potential recruits among the young. The good doctor is not only claiming the moral high ground, she's giving these intolerant and inflexable men a chance to reclaim it for themselves and their Church by doing the right thing for women in their employ.

It's past time for these men to care more about the women in their charge than clinging to an ancient doctrine whose time has long since passed, and which in no way compromises a woman's love for God or the Church.

You can be sure, however, that the bishop has already dispatched his henchman, David Hains, to make sure you never get communion again...because that's how he operates. He's so totally out of touch with reality.--> why would the bishop need David Haines who is the PR guy for the church to do what the Bishop does, which is communicate directly to the priests?What does the Bishop have to do with any of this? This ins't his policy. this is the churche's policy. If the church is out of touch use the proverbial door

"Note the misogynistic redneck comments from these sexist dopes who can't defend their positions." --> Your bigotted racist/classist comment is notedI haven't seen any misogynistic comments. Example please. Also if someone makes a misogynistic comment, it doesn't negate the law or church beliefs. They stand or don't stand on their own merit.

"The world has passed them by and they've gotten away with treating women like dirt for long enough." --> If the world has passed the church by then don't be catholic and don't work for a catholic institution and you don't have to worry about it.

"And YES- McRoberts should leave that depraved anti-woman failure called the Catholic Church. Why would ANYBODY want to be affiliated with an institution that condones child molestation, vociferously attacks women and contraception, has been involved with The Third Reich, owns prisons and politically agitates against the prospects of at least half of the population. CAST OFF these dark religious misogynists!"--> So you are calling Dr. McRoberts and evrey other catholic woman misogynists... You are saying that Dr McRoberts supports the third reich, and child molestation, and owns prisons? seriously...

"when they may have been abandoned by the "gentlemen" who fathered their children."

Clearly the good Doctor lacks focus. The issue of fathers that run out on their responsibility is not a birth control issue. Nor has the good Doctor stated that these women had children with "trash" for fathers because the church told them not to use birth control. Being that the good Doctor is in Biscoe, NC, it is a good bet that her patients are not Catholic - the focus of her scorn.

"when they may have been abandoned by the "gentlemen" who fathered their children."

Clearly the good Doctor lacks focus. The issue of fathers that run out on their responsibility is not a birth control issue. Nor has the good Doctor stated that these women had children with "trash" for fathers because the church told them not to use birth control. Being that the good Doctor is in Biscoe, NC, it is a good bet that her patients are not Catholic - the focus of her scorn.

I am glad that there are so many that obviously did very well in school, with spelling, grammar, etc. I am glad that you were able to notice the spelling and grammar errors. However, it is so sad that the point of this person's letter went right over your collective heads.

Why is this even relevant? My insurance covers lots of things that I've never had to use.. (thankfully) ...and hopefully never will... If a woman is being an obedient Catholic she will never turn in a bill for contraception so it will never be paid for by anyone! My insurance company offers diabetes coverage, but I don't have diabetes so it never gets used, just because something is offered, doesn't mean it is being paid for...and where does Jesus ever mention contraception...please provide chapter and verse, I haven't been able to find it..

Since 98% of Catholic women of childbearing years have used some kind of artificial birth control, just who are these Bishops protecting? The right for their flock to ignore their teaching on this subject, which no longer has anything to do with the modern world?--> Sure. however, I do not believe that 98% of catholic women are employed by the Catholic church. if people who are Catholic and/or employed by the Catholic church, they can pay for their own contraception. the Catholic church shouldn't have to pay for it if they believe it is wrong.

What the celibate, and lest we forget, ALL MALE hierarchy of the Catholic Church is trying to do is get the government to enforce a doctrine that their own members routinely ignore.--> The way to solve that is not to work for the Catholic church or if you work for them, don't expect them to pay for contraception.

Times have changed, and a prohibition against contraception that doesn't even merit a mention in the Bible has no place in a modern democratic society where women feel planning their families is a fundamental right.--> It absolutely has a place in a Republic where religious freedom is protected.

The ban on contraception was created by these men long ago for one purpose: to create more Catholics so the Church could continue to dominate the world politically and economically.

--> Um sure... But anyway. it is the right of the church, the way to solve that is not to work for the Catholic church or if you work for them, don't expect them to pay for contraception.

It is a relic of a bygone era and has nothing to do with abortion - contraception in fact prevents abortions by preventing unwanted pregnancies. A child can understand this, but these Bishops don't seem to get it. A misguided edict like this has serious consequences for young women and families not prepared for the demands of parenthood. Not that they care.--> It is irrelevant. The way to solve that is not to work for the Catholic church or if you work for them, don't expect them to pay for contraception.

To cling to a doctrine of theocratic imperialism today is to make the Catholic Church ever more irrelevant and turn off potential recruits among the young. --> it is irrelevant. The way to solve that is not to work for the Catholic church or if you work for them, don't expect them to pay for contraception.

The good doctor is not only claiming the moral high ground, she's giving these intolerant and inflexable men a chance to reclaim it for themselves and their Church by doing the right thing for women in their employ. --> You have an opinion that it is the "right thing to do" they have an opinion that has a historical and constitutional protection in this country which is religious freedom. they believe contraception is wrong and they shouldn't have to pay for or provide non-essential "healthcare" that they diagree with if they believe it is immoral. If women in their employ don't agree with the church, they don't have to work for the church or they can pay for those nonesssential items themselves. Afterall, why work for an employer you fundamentally disagree with...

It's past time for these men to care more about the women in their charge than clinging to an ancient doctrine whose time has long since passed, and which in no way compromises a woman's love for God or the Church.--> According "the men in their charge" the church believes they are acting in he best interest of women. If you think their time has long since passed you shouldn't go work for them, becasue their isn't much job security anyway. That is your choice. And the church has a legal right to make their moral choice which should be protected.

"I believe that her scorn is not directed at her fellow Catholics, but the Bishops who run the Catholic chuch."Aren't Bishops fellow Catholics?

"some of what she has said makes perfect sense"I don't know what part because she opens right up with a point about the bishop giving up his health insurance and there is no expectation for church employees to give up their health insurance at all simply because contraception isn't covered. Health insurance is available to any employee regardless of the existence of contraception or their choice to use it. the church provided policy simply wont pay for contraception.That is the Church's belief. If she doesn't like it there is a door she can use.

"I believe that her scorn is not directed at her fellow Catholics, but the Bishops who run the Catholic chuch."Aren't Bishops fellow Catholics?

"some of what she has said makes perfect sense"I don't know what part because she opens right up with a point about the bishop giving up his health insurance and there is no expectation for church employees to give up their health insurance at all simply because contraception isn't covered. Health insurance is available to any employee regardless of the existence of contraception or their choice to use it. the church provided policy simply wont pay for contraception.That is the Church's belief. If she doesn't like it there is a door she can use.

I think this doctor sounds like a childish little girl throwing a tantrum. Anyways, being a Catholic and having just gone through pre-marriage counseling I can say that I have first hand knowledge of the faith's point of view on birth control. I feel that the problem with the Catholic church is that they rarely progress and whatever was relevant 2,000 years ago is not necessarily relevant today. Birth control wasn't an issue back then because it wasn't available (obviously) and because people were virgins when they got married. They were virgins when they got married because they got married at 13-18 years old! Today the average age of marriage is 25-30. You can't expect humans to abstain from sex for half or 30% of their lives. I wish the Catholic church would reevaluate their positions, and also it would be refreshing to ordain a Pope that isn't 90+ years old either. Maybe interject some youthfulness in the 'old boys club!

@4:20 pmThis doesn't have anything to do the republicans. You seem like an extremist polarizing person. one of the problems a lot of moderate people in our society see is that people can't agree to disagree. they have to go to far and use all kinds of offensive terminology and insults. Sometimes it gets worse than that. Your post doesn't even make sense, or have a point related to the topic. Churche's have a right to believe what they want. if you don't bleieve what they believe you don't have to go to the church or work at the church. If you work for the church, it is reasonable that they wont supply your birth control as part of the healthcare plan. It is reasonable for you to pay for it yourself. If you don;t like it don't work there.Does the church buy condoms for male employees? No... oh..

The doctor's letter is a clear window into her psyche -- twisted and angry. Did Christ do anything to make her that way? Did the Church? No. Unfortunately, her anger and resentment probably stem from her own mistakes. She blindly lashes out at the Church, the clergy and the laity, like some angry child who is in time out. I hope that she finds peace in her heart and realizes that Christ and the Church values her for what she is: a child of God.

I see you at mass. You can barely kneel let alone stand up for extended periods of times. I exercise and eat right so when I pay health insurance, I sure as hell dont enjoy paying for your diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure medication. But thats how the system works. Same goes for you catholic smokers and drinkers.

So quick to judge, but cant recognize their own flaws. And I'm sure you all waited till marriage to have sex.

How twisted are your comments. And, how dare you call yourself a doctor. It truly is amazing how you criticize the Catholic Church over so-called womens health issues. Contraception has nothing to do with a woman's health. No one is forcing you to be associated with the Catholic Church. Go join another. There are plenty out there that proudly support your pathetic point of view.

The Doctor has a very poorly stated argument and little or no understanding of The Church's teaching or our concern for religious freedom. As a college educated, working woman married for over 25 years who practiced Natural Family Planning, I find her assertions insulting and demeaning. There are many real medical conditions that insurers/employers choose not cover for a variety of reasons. Children are not a disease. I stand by my Church.

I see you at mass. You can barely kneel let alone stand up for extended periods of times. I exercise and eat right so when I pay health insurance, I sure as hell dont enjoy paying for your diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure medication. But thats how the system works. (No it isn't how it works. you don't pay for the other catholic church attendees. you pay for the employees if you tithe. If you tithe, is is saving you money on employee health benefits and more of your dollars are going toward the good works of the church and not to behavior you (coughing) and the church admonish

Same goes for you catholic smokers and drinkers. (No it doesn't. repeat above as needed)

So quick to judge, but cant recognize their own flaws. And I'm sure you all waited till marriage to have sex.(Didn't you. you are Catholic right? the "catholic parishoners are not the people making the rules. The vatican does. The Catholic parishioners aren't judging anyone. They just aren't paying for birth control for church employees.)

I am a Roman Catholic convert of 15 years, and mother of 13 children. I respect Dr. McRoberts opinion but I think she confuses apples and oranges here. The problem with thee HHS mandate is that it forces Catholics to pay for services that are morally repugnant to us and for which we will have to answer to God for endangering our souls and as partly culpable if we support them. We have no choice, according to our faith, but to stand against this mandate. Now, before the mandate Catholic institutions were able to choose which services they would omit from insurance offerings to their employees- in those circumstances I think you will find that Catholic employers are more than reasonably supportive of all the health issues dear to Dr. McRoberts heart with the exception of the options contrary to the teachings of our religion.I think Dr. McRoberts has suffered or the emotion in her response would not be as poignant, and I think anyone who has suffered injustice especially a woman who has suffered an injustice at the hands of a man should be able to voice her concern about whether or not she can trust men in general to do what is right for women and not just to act for their own selfish and self-preserving interests- which is often after all a default setting for men in general- (see Genesis chapter 3 for more details.) I have lived here as a Catholic for seven years, and I attend church with his excellency's parents. Our bishop, Peter Jugis is an exceptional, conscientious, and gentle shepherd, profoundly concerned for the welfare of all of us, not just Catholics in his diocese, but he is keenly concerned for the youngest, weakest, and most needy among us. I know he shares this with many of our local priests who are also acutely concerned for their people. I have many friends who are priests and religious, and my son is studying for the priesthood. These men are first and foremost sacrificing themselves to be available to care for people's souls and relationships with God, second to that they work tirelessly to help people with real world, practical problems. But they are only human- they can't be all things to all people all the time. They have to make hard decisions, and sometimes they have to make unpopular decisions, and sometimes they make mistakes. I don't know a priest of the thirty or so of my personal acquaintance who flippantly read the hurt in these comments by Dr. McRoberts and walk away without the added burden for her soul embittered by some past victimization. I have known priests who regularly slept on the floor in their bedrooms instead of their beds as a sacrifice offered for married couples in their parish undergoing trial in marriage. I have seen them fast and pray nearly barefooted in freezing cold, go without hot showers in the dead of winter, part with gifts from loved ones on behalf of needy they met randomly in airports, give their gas money to beggars, their food to hungry children, let their cassocks fray on the cuffs and hems to pay the light bill for the church, and throw off their clerical clothes to mop up overflowing toilets. And the guys I know are just your everyday good, solid priests- alot of them are out there, as unsung heroes, undoing the damage done by that self-preserving default setting I mentioned before through their vocation. No doubt this bark of Peter, the Church, has a varied lot of sinners running the ship and riding on it, but for my part- I consider myself to be in the best of company, and I would rather ride here with them, especially here in Charlotte, NC and in Atlanta, GA, than float alone in the swell with only my own ideas and vision to rule my craft.

"I don't recall that Jesus made any statements about birth control." BECAUSE THERE WASNT ANY

It's time for the Catholic hierarchy to stop beating a dead horse. Women accepted birth control over 40 years ago.Well the church didn't and there is a thing called religious freedom. if you want birth control pay for it. you have been paying for it for 40 years why is it a problem now? Keep paying for it. A church that doesn't believe it is morally acceptable should not have to buy your contraception. Men accepted birth control 40 years ago. no one is handing out condoms on the churches dime.

simply speaking - the Catholic church as long as they fund the medical expenses out of their own pockets can pick and choose what they want to cover. They are objecting to the federal mandates of what has to be covered....which Obama's administration has agreed to make an exception to the Church...so why is this still an issue? If you don't want medical coverage through the Catholic church a) get some from elsewhereb) find another job if you really need to have the coveragec) if you like your job - get a supplemental policy which will cover those specific benefits the church excludes....

First of all, the Catholic church is very forgiving, and there are so many organizations that spend countless hours and pour their heart into prayer and service to these women she speaks of (www.rati.org--right here in her home state...) She, especially as a Catholic woman in medicine, should guide these women to these organizations rather than lashing out at the Catholic Church for trying to protect the sanctity of life. And yes, there are many aspects to being pro-life, which is why the Catholic Church stands behind its teachings that aim to protect life and promote the gift of life and children...not to treat it like a disease or a war on women. So many women do feel lonely and scared in unplanned pregnancies, often times leading them to make decisions with which they do not know the magnitude. Has she ever talked to women post-abortions...many end up feeling very regretful and sad, partially because they did not have enough information (and the Obama administration would prefer even less of that), and because there are not more people trying to help them...people like this doctor just fighting for the wrong cause! The Catholic Church embraces these women, and has never turned them away. They are always about forgiveness. And why would we just trust people to make the right decisions and not give them guidance? We are called as Christians to try and help protect the sanctity of life and help others get to heaven. Talk about abandoning people...that doesn't make any sense. And, a homily on rape and "casual sex"??!!? I certainly don't want to hear that on Sundays. That has nothing to do with the topic at hand. Sounds like pure bitterness to me. Why can't people see that the use of birth control like it is candy makes it easy for girls/woman to have "casual sex" outside of marriage, which ultimately ends up hurting them and causing people like this doctor to blame others for that. That is why the Catholic Church upholds marriage and stands behind protecting it and the conjugal act. And, it really doesn't matter the percentage of people who use birth control or have abortions within the Catholic Faith. The Catholic Church seeks to help all babies and all mothers...Catholic or not.

With all due respect to Dr. McRoberts, while I respect your opinion, I find your argument to be completely irrational. I believe you are arguing against the Church's opposition to the contraception policy in the HHS mandate, but you mention bishops and vasectomies? It also sounds like you may not agree with the Church's stance on artificial contraception, but you're bringing up whether or not you've ever heard a homily on casual sex or pedophilia? That's like a child arguing, "Well, my Mother told me not to play in the street because it would be dangerous with all the traffic, but She's never mentioned anything about guns or drugs - WHEN I'VE BEEN LISTENING - so maybe the street rule isn't so important..."

I really do believe this is less about birth control than it is about over-reach of the government and, quite frankly, a vicious attack on freedom of religion. No one is saying that a woman who works at a Catholic institution can not have access to artificial birth control. She can get that at a local drug store or in a supplemental policy. But she also deserves access to the TRUTH, and I am grateful that our Church, the mystical body of Christ, is not backing down on this issue.

And in response, to "Ben"(and other who may think like him), who said: artificial contraception "is a relic of a bygone era and has nothing to do with abortion - contraception in fact prevents abortions by preventing unwanted pregnancies." Hormonal contraception actually has much to do with abortion...it is actually an abortafacient. If the chemicals/hormones fail to prevent conception, they then work to prevent implantation of the newly conceived life....causing the mother to miscarry her child in the earliest stages of his or life and, thus, inducing an abortion.

Dr. McRoberts, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I pray that you find peace!

"From someone who was raised catholic...the catholic church is full of hypocrits and the doctor is right. It does not respect women."

--> the world is ful of hypocrits. What is your point. If the church doesn't "respect women" then why is the doctor Catholic? whether the church believes in contraception for both men and women is definitely not an indication that the church doesn't respect women. And ultimately you, the doctor, or anyone else can disagrew with the church on the issue, but they have a moral and legal right to not pay for someone's contraception. If someone disagrees with their views, they can pay for contraception on their own.

I sincerely wish that more doctors - like Dr. McRoberts - would share with women the harmful side effects of hormonal birth control - blood clots, infertility, and breast cancer, among many others. Additionally, those artificial hormones can mask a whole host of other problems that grow unchecked in the years that a woman is taking her birth control... I find it ironic that something so dangerous to women would even be considered to be a part of a "health" plan. Birth control is the only "pill" that I can think of that one puts in her body to make it NOT do what it's supposed to do! I wish that more doctors would take the time to show women that there are natural, more healthy, and, arguably, more effective ways to postpone pregnancy.

What a great point that was made abuot the negative effects of hormonal birth contol on women't body. Their are also physical barrier methods like IUDd that have had deadly health effects and still have negative health consequences to date.

To anonymous @ 1:12 - agreed! FYI, most IUDs (like Mirena) are actually hormonal. They're marketed as a "barrier", a method with has dangerous ramifications as well, but they work on a low dose of hormones. Check the company's website for further info. Scary!!

I agree 100% with the doctor. As a practicing (and DONATING) Catholic woman for the past 33 years, I have become so completely disillusioned by the hipocracy of the leadership of the Catholic church from the Pope all the way down to the lowest pedophile priest. I refuse this lot to usurp my faith, but I will continue to vote my conscience and ignore directives from the pulpit to vote otherwise.

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The Observer's editorial board cares deeply about Charlotte and the Carolinas, and has a problem with public officials who have forgotten that they report to citizens. Editorial page editor Taylor Batten and associate editors Peter St. Onge and Eric Frazier tackle politics and public policy issues locally, across the state and nation. Kevin Siers tackles those issues too in cartoons. Read their columns and biographical information on the CharlotteObserver.com Opinion page.